Mountain bike is a sport that is rapidly taking off around the world. So great is its popularity that travel companies are taking advantage of this and offering mountain biking tours. Whether you are new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, you are bound to find a tour that will appeal to you.

Because there are so many companies offering mountain bike tours, you have to do a great deal of research in advance to make sure you go with the best company. Typically, it's best to go with a tour company that is already well established, so that you know they are reputable and give good service.

When researching tour companies, an important piece of information to find out is what there cancellation policy is. Typically companies allow you to cancel without penalty up until 60 days before the start of the tour, after that you may have to forfeit any deposit you've put down, and if you cancel within days of the tour you may lose the entire price of the tour! So make sure you understand the fine print before you sign on the dotted line.

Because of the popularity of the internet, it's easy to find the right mountain biking tour for you.

Unlike leisure biking tours which can extend over the course of several days, mountain biking tours typically only last for two or three days, although some do last for five. There are also mountain biking tours that cater specifically to women, and those that cater to families.

When you're going on these tours, you may want to bring your own bike, or you can rent one from the tour company. However, you simply must bring your own helmet and gloves. The last thing you want to do is trust your safety to an ill-fitting helmet. Bring your own and make sure! If you're renting a bike from the company make sure you take two types of shoes in case they use clipless pedals.

Be Prepared on Your Mountain Biking Tour

You'll also want to be prepared for the weather by bringing rain gear. You'll want an extra pair of shoes in case your first pair gets wet. You'll need sunscreen and insect repellant. It's always a good idea to bring your own water bottle, not to mention a hydration pack.

Below we give just a few examples of businesses that offer mountain biking tours.

Rim Tours has been offering mountain biking tours in the back country locations of the Western United States since 1985. The names will be familiar to all mountain biking enthusiasts: Utah, Moab, Canyonlands National Park, Bryce and Zion National Parks, the North Rim in Grand Canyon National Park; the Kokopelli Trail, Fruita, Crested Butte and Durango, Colorado.

Did you know you could go mountain biking in Australia? A company called Mountain Bike Tours offers day tours to Byron Bay's Hinterland (Northern NSW) - you'll see a protected subtropical rainforest, deep gorges and famous cascading waterfalls and you'll learn about historic pioneering postal routes and early logging tracks and trails.

Ever heard of the Carpathian mountains of Transylvania? Feel like biking by Dracula's castle? Well, a company called Active Holidays offers such a tour. The inhabitants of Transylvania still work the land, and old farmers still uses horses and carts. The cycling routes average 40 miles a day so you'd better be pretty fit, but there's plenty of time stop and visit a fewancient fortresses, citadels or fortified churches.

If you like the exotic - give Transylvania a try today.

By searching the web for any of your other interests besides mountain biking, you may well find that you can combine two vacations in to one. So start searching for that dream trip today.